Cocaine Worth $77 Million Found in Shipping Container Arriving at Port of New York/New Jersey

Law enforcement officers unload part of approximately 3,200 lbs. of cocaine, which was seized at the Port of New York/Newark on February 28, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. Image released on March 11, 2019. Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Handout via REUTERS

A joint operation involving the U. S. Customs and Border Protection seized approximately 3,200 pounds of cocaine in what officials said is the largest illicit drugs seizure at the port since 1994. 

CBP said the drugs, worth an estimated street value of $77 million, were found inside a shipping container entering the United States on board a ship arriving from South America on February 28th. A examination of the container revealed sixty packages containing a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for cocaine.

The agency did not reveal the identity of the ship. 

The CBP said the bust marks the second largest cocaine seizure ever at the Port of New York/Newark, and the largest there in nearly 25 years.

The joint operation involved U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U. S. Coast Guard (USCG), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the New York Police Department (NYPD), and the New York State Police (NYSP).

“This is a significant seizure, in fact it is the largest cocaine seizure at the Port of New York/Newark since May 1994,” said Troy Miller, Director, New York Field Operations. “The ongoing partnership between CBP, USCG, HSI, DEA, NYPD, and NYSP continues to produce results that protect the American public. This interception prevents a massive quantity of drugs from getting to the streets and in the hands of our children.”

CBP officers turned over the illicit drugs to agents from Homeland Security Investigations for further investigations.

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